Violin holder



Jan. 7, 1930. F CQNNELL 1,742,305

VIOLIN HOLDER Filed Jan. 4 1927 Inven Z01:

5 AM W Patented Jan. 7, 1930 MARTIN F. CONNELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS VIOLIN HOLDER Application filed January 4, 1927. Serial No. 158,918.

This invention relates to devices for sup porting a violin against the body of a player,

proved device of this character which will minimize the difliculties and annoyances commonly experienced by a violin player.

-A violinis commonly supported against a players body by being held against a pad placed in the vicinity of the nerve center be lowthe players shoulder blade. This pad collects heat and often becomes wet by perspiration from the players body, and also on account of the continual pressure which is exerted often causes neuritis of the players left warm. Furthermore, when a violin is supported against a players body in this manner the pressure exerted upon the violin, as is necessary in playing, causes the violin to assume a lopsided position which is very annoying and troublesome to the player. i

The present invention contemplates the provision of a device for supporting a violin against a players body which is shaped to provide a natural resting place for the violin and is spaced from the violin so as not to mufile the natural vibration of the instrument, and at the same time is constructed so as to distribute the pressures around the nerve center below the players shoulder blade and thereby minimize the difficulties and annoyances heretofore commonly experienced by a violin player. A suitable device for this purpose may comprise a clamp supported by the end block within the violin carrying a depending support or rest which is arranged substantially to the shape of the players body to distribute the pressure evenly thereupon The rest, preferably, is removably secured to the clamp so that it may Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of a device embodying the invention. and has for its object the provision of an 1m- 1 Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational detail view of a portion of a violin with the device of the invention secured in place; and

Fig. 2% is a perspective detail view of a portion of the violin body support.

In accordance with the invention a device is provided for supporting a violin against the players body and, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises a clamp having a lower portion or shelf 10 provided with a layer of cork 11 upon its upper surface to engage the violin below an end block 12 within the violin. The shelf 10 is provided with upwardly extending lugs 13 having an upper threaded portion 14: adapted to engage the lower threaded portion of sleeves 15. A bar 16 of substantially the same shape as the rear portion of the violin is provided with forwardly projecting clasps 17 having a layer of cork 18, or other suitable material, secured upon their lower surface to engage the upper surface of the violin above the end block 12. Lugs 19 are provided upon the bar 16 and depend therefrom,preferably directly below the clasps 17 and are provided with a lower threaded portion 20 adapted to engage the internal threads upon the upper portion of the sleeves 15,-the sleeves 15 being provided n with suitable means, such as a lateral hole 21 near the center thereof for the insertion of a wrench or the like to turn the sleeves and thereby bring the lower shelf 10 and the upper clasps 17 securely against the violin.

ably, is removably secured to the clamp.

With this in view the rest is provided with a shelf 27 adapted to rest against the shelf 10 of the clamp. An upwardly extending hook-shaped member 28 is formed upon one edge of the shelf 27 and is adapted to 00- If desired, the bar 16 maybe provided with an operate and interlock with a similarly shaped member 29 upon the shelf of the clamp. The opposite edge of the shelf 27 is provided with depressions 30 to receive complementary projections upon ears 31 depending from the shelf 10 and thereby provide a spring catch for removably securing the rest to the clamp. The shelf 27 is provided with depending and forwardly projecting portions 32 and 33 to which a suitably constructed skeleton frame rest 34 is secured by hinges 35. The position of the skeleton frame rest 34: may be adjusted to fill in the space between the players body and the violin so as to position the violin propn erly for either stout or slender players. For

this purpose, depending sector-shaped arms 36 are secured to the forwardly projecting portions 32 and 33 of the shelf and each is provided with a screw 38 adapted to project within a slot 39 in similarly shaped arms 40 projecting upwardlyfrom the rest 34:. The rest 34 may be locked in any suitable adjusted position by thumb nuts 41 engaging the threaded end of the screw 38 and adapted to contact with the arms 40.

In order that the players clothing may be protected from direct contact with the lower parts of the violin or from direct contact with the material of which the device of the invention is constructed, a curtain of velvet 45, or other suitable cloth, is hung from the bar 16 so as to cover the rod and rest against the players clothing where the violin may contact therewith. For this purpose also, the lower surfaces of the shelf 27 and the rest 34 are coated with suitable cloth strips 46 and 47.

In order to secure the device of the invention to a violin, the sleeve 15 is turned in a direction to move the clasps 17 away from the shelf 10 in order to permit the shelf to be brought in contact with the violin below the end block 12 and the clasps 17 above the end block on opposite sides of a pin 48 appropriately secured in the end block so as to support the tail piece 49 of the violin. The sleeve 15 is then turned in the opposite direction in order to securely clamp the shelf 10 and clasps 17 against the violin. The hook-shaped K members 28 and 29 are then interlocked and to hold it securely in its adjusted position.

The device of the invention provides a natural support for the violin against the players body and is constructed and arranged so as to distribute the pressures encountered during playing around and away from the nerve center below the players shoulder blade. The skeleton frame construction permits free circulation of air around the players shoulder and neck, and for that reason is cool, especially in warm weather, and minimizes the danger of the player having neuritis. Furthermore, the parts of the device are provided with cloth which eliminates friction of the device and the violin upon the players clothing which tends to render the players clothing shiny. In addition, it will be noted that the device is adjustable so as to hold the violin properly positioned while supported naturally upon the body of the player and at the same time keeps the violin at a desired angle and prevents it assuming a lop-sided position which is so annoying and trying to the player.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for supporting a violin against the body of a player around and away from the nerve centre below the shoulder blade, a clamp including parallel upper and lower clamping members spaced apart and adjustable toward and away from one another and a shoulder rest including a continuous skeleton frame'secured at each of its ends to said lower member and extending downwardly therefrom and curving laterally and longitudinally thereof.

2. In a device for supporting a violin against the body of a player around and away from the nerve centre below his shoulder blade, a clamp including parallel upper and lower clamping members spaced apart and adjustable toward and away from one another, said members each having an extension in the same direction, a chin rest secured to the extension of said upper member, and a shoulder rest including a continuous skeleton frame secured at one end to said lower member and extending downwardly therefrom and curving laterally away from said member and then longitudinally thereof to a point below said chin rest where it curves laterally in the opposite direction and then upwardly and is secured at its other end to the extension of said lower member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MARTIN F. CONNELL. 

